Newgrange News - Swimming Champ

Meath isn't only about the historical sites and luxury hotel accommodation, there's also a powerful community spirit and we celebrate the achievements of our locals as a community. The elated reception for Eleanor Murray of Scoil Mhuire on Monday 11th of October was proof of this. Her gold and bronze medals in hand, she returned to her school in Trim as local hero. The medals came from her victories at the Down's syndrome International and World Swimming Championships, held in Taipei, Taiwan.

A member of a team of seven Irish athletes, the 16-year-old student won a gold medal in the 50m freestyle competition and then proceeded to set a new personal best time of 52.32 seconds. This timely accomplishment shaved 1.43 seconds off her previous best performance.

Eleanor also won a bronze medal in the 100m butterfly event and again set a new personal best time of 2.17.90m - proving that she was on top of her game and beating her previous best time in the event by a huge 6.95 seconds.

Eleanor travelled to Taipei with her parents, Elizabeth and Tom, brother Paul and aunt Sue. Her mother Elizabeth said this week: "We are very proud of Eleanor. She has been training for two years for the championships and set new personal bests in three of the four events which she took part in."

Her coach, John Fox from Summerhill, has been training Eleanor but her instruction doesn't end there. She also spends Saturday mornings with coach Tara Bernie and sweats away in the gym two to three nights each week with manager Damien. Mrs Murray commented that everyone involved had been very supportive of her daughter and she also thanked Padraic Keogh of Travel in Trim, which had seen to the travel arrangements for the entire Irish team.

With this World Championship under her belt, she is already looking ahead to the next World Championships which will be held in Italy in two years' time. Aside from that she is engaged in training for the European Championships, which are due to take place in Southampton in the UK and Albufeira, Portugal.